It was a tale of two halves for No. 3 ranked Kansas and Emporia State on Tuesday night. The Jayhawks led by just four-points at the half, but blew the game wide-open after intermission. Just when it looked as if the Hornets were going to keep the game close, the Hawks exploded with a 27-2 run in the second half.

"I didn't know that until halftime," said Brandon Rush of being named to the All American team. "I didn't know that at all. Coach Bill Self told the whole team at the half and said that's the reason why I came out and played the way I did today.

"He thought I heard that, but I didn't," he added. "I feel that I played terrible the first half. I told Coach Self that I knew nothing about it."

Not much went KU's way in the first half. As a team, the Hawks connected on 14-of-34 field goals, 4-of-7 three-pointers and were 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. KU out-rebounded ESU, 23-15, but committed more turnovers than assists.

It was a sloppy first half performance by Self's squad, but the swagger of the team quickly turned around for the better in the second half.